City Treasurer Sues Over Daughter's Building Collapse Death
By Tim Jimenez
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- Philadelphia's City Treasurer and her husband filed a wrongful death suit Tuesday. Their daughter was one of the six people who died in June's Center City building collapse (see previous story).
Months later and City Treasurer Nancy Winkler is still in shock.
"Can't believe this happened. I can't believe this happened," Winkler said.
COMPLETE COVERAGE: Center City Building Collapse
Winkler and her husband Jay Bryan spoke out about losing their 24-year-old daughter Anne Bryan in the rubble of the Salvation Army store at 22nd and Market (see related story). Bryan saying Anne, a student at the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts, should still be with them today.
"Our grief has been made more difficult by the revelation in these emails that have been released that the accident was entirely avoidable and in fact predicted," Bryan said.
Bryan referring to emails released between the Salvation Army and STB Investments, who along with demolition contractor Griffin Campbell are three of the 19 defendants named in the suit.
The family is also calling for a blue ribbon commission to look into the collapse. They also have a petition online at the site change.org, wanting a memorial built at 22nd and Market (see previous story).
Mayor Nutter's spokesman Mark McDonald says there have been discussions within the administration about putting such a panel of experts together. He says an announcement could come in the near future.
As with the public memorial at 22nd and Market, McDonald says the Mayor thinks it's a good idea and wants to be part of the effort to establish one. However, he says, the property is not owned by the city and a grand jury investigation of the collapse is ongoing.
